Mud-chain fastener.



J. W. ZORGDRAGER.

MUD CHAIN FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED IULY 26. 1915.

1,197,423. PatentedSept 5,1916.

Witnesses PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE W. ZORGDRAGER, OF BOULDER, COLORADO.

MUD-CHAIN FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

Application filed July as, 1915. serial No. 41,981.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, JEssE W. ZORGDRAGER, a citizen ofrthe United States, residing at Boulder, in the county of Boulder and, State of Colorado, have invented ajnew and useful Mud-Chain Fastener,.of which the following is a specification.

The. deviceforming'the subject matter of this application is adapted to be employed in connection with mud chains for vehicle wheels, in logging operations and elsewhere, where a detachable connector is required.

One object of the present invention is to provide a structure of this sort which will not be clogged by ice or mud, and another object of the invention is to provide a structure of this class which will be compact in form.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of the main link which unites the auxiliary links, the latter being connected with a pair of pivotally united hooks, the main link being so constructed that it is well adapted to withstand the strains imposed thereon, and at the same time, permit the necessary movement in the auxiliary links.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction embodying the pivotally connected hooks and the auxiliary links, whereby the shanks of the hooks will be permitted to move into alinement as the bills of the hooks assume overlapped positions.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing :-Figure 1 shows the invention in side elevation and in closed position; Fig. 2 shows the invention in side elevation and in open position; Fig. 3 is an elevation wherein the structure is viewed at right angles to the showing of Fig. 1; Fig. 4: is a transverse sectional view in the nature of a diagram. Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

The device forming the subject matter of this application preferably is fashioned from metal throughout and comprises ,a main link formed from a single piece of metal bent upon itself to define a main bar 1 terminating in oppositely extended loops 2 the ends of which form overlapped arms 3 extended transversely of the main bar 1, there being an eye 4 on each arm, engaging the other arm, the eyes 4E being on opposite sides of the main bar 1, all of which will be understood clearly from Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The invention comprises a pair of auxiliary links 5 provided at one end with eyes 6 receiving loosely one of the loops 2 of the main link.

A pair of hooks is provided, the hooks comprising overlapped, oppositely extended bills 7, the inner faces of which are in contact as shown at 8, and alined shanks 9, the inner faces of which are spaced apart as shown at 10. In the shanks 9 openings 15 are formed, and in the openings 15, eyes 16 formed at the ends of the auxiliary links 5 are received loosely. A pivot element 25 unites the hooks.

When the shanks 9 are swung together and approach alinement, the eyes 16 abut against each other, as shown at 12 in Fig. 4. Then, the eyes 16 swing laterally in the openings 15, until the eyes 16 engage diagonally disposed edges of the openings 15 as shown at 11. The eyes 16 thus are in abutment and are held in rigid relation to the shanks 9, the eyes 16 thus coacting to maintain the shanks 9 in alinement. Owing to the fact that the eyes 16 are free to tilt in the openings 15, into the positions shown in Fig. 4:, the shanks 9 may be alined and, at the same time, openings 15 may be formed midway between the longitudinal edges of the shanks 9, it being unnecessary to weaken the shanks by forming the opening nearer to one edge of the shank than to the other edge thereof.

In practical operation, the device is opened as shown in Fig. 2, the object which is to be held being inserted between the spaced bills 7 of the hooks. When a pull is exerted on the main link, the device will assume the position of Fig. 1.

The bill 7 of one hook is provided upon its inner face With a depression 50, adapted to receive a lug or projection 51 on the inner face of the bill 7 of the other hook, the bills of the hooks being preferably resilient, so that When-the bills of the hooks are brought into overlapped relation the lug Will be received in the recess or depression, thereby forming a releasable locking means.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is In a device of the class described apair of hooks comprising oppositely extended, overlapped bills having their inner faces in contact, and alined shanks, the inner faces of which are spaced apart, the shanks being provided With openings; auxiliary links copies of this patent may be obtained for loosely mounted in the openings; a main link uniting the auxiliary links; and a pivot element uniting the hooks intermediate their ends; the auxiliary links being adapted to abut against each other, to swing laterally in the openings, and to engage diagonally opposed edges of the respective openings, thereby to permit an alinement of the shanks.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

JESSE W. ZORGDRAGER.

Witnesses:

F. J. MAXWELL, J. R. GOULD.

flv e cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

